Not
that some of us need reminding. These chemicals are far more dangerous than
many people realize. It is often not possible to clean a container, which has
held these chemicals well enough to reuse it.
Most
chemicals come with use instructions that people never even read.
To
illustrate, we were walking in our neighborhood one afternoon and came upon one
of our neighbors spraying herbicide/weed killer on the weeds in her yard. She
was wearing shorts and flip-flops while she sprayed this chemical.
We
generally just let the weeds grow because we feel they are far less harmful
than the chemicals. We use a weed-eater to keep a clear perimeter around the
house and call it done.
We
suggested to her that she wear boots and a coverall that could be cleaned or
even thrown away after she was finished.
While
manufacturers of these chemicals insist they are harmless to humans even they
would expect people to exercise reasonable caution.
It’s
not my first experience with people who are too careless with their lives and
their children’s lives and yard chemicals.
Another
woman we knew, a nursing mother, was also spraying weed killer on her yard
while wearing shorts and flip-flops.
An
older relative of mine loved to spray weed killer on her yard and gardens. She
did it for years without taking many precautions. She now has dementia and
began developing it relatively young and atypically from ordinary Alzheimer
disease.
Of
course these experiences we have had pale by comparison when you consider the
chemicals many farmers use. Often they are concentrated and must be diluted
before they are applied.
A
young farmer dripped just a drop or two of insecticide on his leg and nearly
died. He was in a coma for over two weeks. When he finally regained
consciousness doctors were unsure whether his poisoning would have long term
consequences.
We
had a friend whose family story is probably the ultimate as a cautionary tale
about herbicides and pesticides.
The
family had a farm where they regularly used these types of chemicals. The
consequences were severe.
1. The father
died of cancer.
2. The
children…all 4 of them...had cancer at young ages.
3. The youngest
died of breast cancer in her early 40’s.
4. Of the 4
children…2 boys and 2 girls…only one ever had a child (one).
The
consequences made them more likely to develop cancer and mostly infertile, too.
Pesticides and fertility don’t mix.
Be
careful with that stuff and avoid exposure as much as possible. Those chemicals
that are so harmful are the real reason to buy organic foods, regardless of
expense.
Our
president and everyone who serves in the US Congress and Senate eat organic
foods. That’s what they insist on having. What do they know that we don’t?
Resource Box
Georgette and Ron Pauls are lifestyle specialists. You won’t
find the usual textbook lifestyle advice on their blog. Learn more about the
environment and fertility at Fertility and the Environment.
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